Estimation of exhaust gas temperature at the output of the egr circuit of a combustion engine

ABSTRACT

A method for estimating the temperature of exhaust gases of a combustion engine at an output of an EGR circuit fitted on the engine, based on a model that takes into account thermal energy losses of the exhaust gases at an EGR cooler or EGR circuit, the model also taking into account thermal exchange between the exhaust gases and the walls of a duct conveying the exhaust gases to the EGR cooler. A vehicle can implement such an estimation.

The invention relates to an estimation of the exhaust gas temperature in an internal combustion engine at the outlet of an EGR circuit with which the engine is equipped.

In strategies developed in engine software as regards air management, it is necessary to know the exhaust gas temperature at the outlet of the EGR circuit.

The measurement of the exhaust gas temperature at the outlet of the EGR circuit may be found using a thermocouple measurement.

This solution is precise but expensive (especially due to the cost of the thermocouple and the cost of the acquisition chain). It also requires the provision in the engine compartment of the volume needed to integrate it.

This is why it is becoming increasingly preferable to replace the thermocouple with an estimate of the exhaust gas temperature at the outlet of the EGR circuit.

For this purpose, numerical models based on physics equations are used (e.g. conservation of mass equation and conservation of energy equation).

The major drawback is the lack of precision and reliability of the model.

Specifically, to achieve a high level of precision, it is necessary to solve complex equations involving complex calculation means.

Moreover, these calculation means must be simple enough to be integrated into the computer of the motor vehicle.

An “estimation precision/calculation simplicity” compromise must therefore be found.

Such an approach is conventionally used in calculation means by making assumptions about the physical phenomena governing the exhaust gas heat exchange in EGR circuits and by noting that the exhaust gas temperature drop in an EGR circuit is dependent on the thermal performance of the EGR cooler.

However, trials on vehicles, based on the actual thermal performance of the EGR cooler, have shown that there could be deviations of up to 200 to 300° C. between the estimated and measured gas temperature at the outlet of the EGR circuit.

By numerically adjusting the thermal performance of the cooler so as to attempt to correlate the measurements with the model, the average deviations will thus be reduced to around fifty degrees Celsius.

However, this inaccuracy remains considerable, and therefore unsatisfactory.

A main objective of the invention is to improve the precision of the estimated temperature at the outlet of the EGR circuit.

Another objective of the invention is to reduce the complexity of the calculations needed to calculate this temperature, while still maintaining an acceptable possible margin of error.

To achieve these objectives, the invention provides, according to a first aspect, a method of estimating the exhaust gas temperature T₃ in an internal combustion engine at the outlet of an EGR circuit with which the engine is equipped, based on a model that takes into account the thermal energy loss of the exhaust gas in the EGR cooler of the EGR circuit, characterized in that the model furthermore takes into account the heat exchange between the exhaust gas and the walls of a duct conveying the exhaust gas to the EGR cooler.

Other optional features of this method of estimation are:

-   -   said model takes into account the following types of heat         exchange:         -   the internal heat exchange between the gas and the wall of             said duct;         -   the external heat exchange between the wall of said tube and             the environment outside the engine compartment, such as             convective heat exchange due to a flow of air and radiative             exchange of components external to the duct; and         -   the gas cooling through the EGR cooler;     -   said model is based on simplified equations for the conservation         of thermal energy of the gas taking into account the various         types of heat exchange over the entire length of the EGR         circuit, making it possible:         -   (a) to determine the heat exchange between the exhaust gas             and the walls of a duct conveying the exhaust gas to the EGR             cooler of the EGR circuit;         -   (b) to determine the heat exchange between the exhaust gas             and the inlet of the EGR cooler, taking into account the             determination in step (a); and         -   (c) to determine the heat exchange of the exhaust gas in the             EGR cooler;     -   said equations form a system of three equations with three         unknowns T_(w), T₂ and T₃, knowing that T_(w) is the estimated         temperature of the walls of said duct and that T₂ is the         estimated temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the         cooler, the three equations corresponding to the three         determinations (a), (b) and (c);     -   the temperature T₃ is mainly estimated from knowing the exhaust         gas temperature at the inlet of the EGR circuit, the temperature         of the engine coolant leaving the engine, the specific heat of         the EGR gas at constant pressure, the mass flow rate of the EGR         gas, the specific heat of said duct and the geometric and mass         characteristics of the duct;     -   said model amounts to a system of independent linear first-order         differential equations;     -   these equations are found by making the following         approximations:         -   the external convective heat exchange linked to air flowing             around the duct is of the same order of magnitude as the             radiative heat exchange by components external to the duct;         -   the convection temperature is approximately equal to the             water temperature; and         -   the changes in T₂ over time are instantaneous compared with             the changes in T_(w) over time.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a vehicle equipped with an electronic temperature estimator comprising computing means and means for storing predetermined and/or measured data so as to implement said method of estimation.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become more clearly understood on reading the detailed description of nonlimiting embodiments of the invention, illustrated by the following figures:

FIG. 1 shows schematically the various elements of a compartment of an internal combustion engine equipped with an EGR circuit;

FIG. 2 shows schematically a longitudinal sectional view of an EGR cooler and a portion of its inlet and outlet ducts;

FIG. 3 shows a functional diagram of a thermal arrangement equivalent to the EGR cooler assembly according to FIG. 2, illustrating a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a functional diagram a functional diagram of a thermal arrangement equivalent to the EGR cooler assembly according to FIG. 2, illustrating a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a diagram illustrating the main steps in a method of estimation according to the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a graph giving the variation in the temperature at the outlet of the EGR circuit as a function of the EGR cycles, such that the temperatures are measured or estimated.

The invention described below involves the following two embodiments, enabling the exhaust gas temperature at the outlet of the EGR cooler to be estimated:

-   -   development of equations closely modeling physical phenomena,         the equations being reduced to their strictest necessary for         them to be able to be integrated into an engine software         package; an appreciable improvement in the precision of the         estimator of the exhaust gas temperature in the EGR circuit is         obtained, given that the model used is closer to reality; and     -   drastic simplification of the equations considered in the first         embodiment—the objective is to minimize the computing time and         the software size.

The two proposed embodiments are readily applicable to all internal combustion engines equipped with EGR circuits (diesel engine, gasoline engine, etc.).

FIG. 1 shows an example of an internal combustion engine compartment.

This engine compartment comprises an internal combustion engine 10 supplied with air via an intake duct 11 and discharging its exhaust gas via a discharge duct 12. This engine compartment is also provided with a turbocharger 50, comprising a compressor 51 located on the intake duct 11, in order to compress the fluid fuel coming from the line 53. Optionally, cooling means 40 and a flap 30 are provided between the compressor 51 and the engine 10. The air reaching the engine 10 is therefore cold. The turbine 52 of the turbocharger 50 is located at the end of the discharge duct 12 and is coupled to the compressor 51. The exhaust gas leaves the engine compartment and is then discharged via the line 54.

Furthermore, this assembly includes an EGR circuit 20, the inlet 28 of which is connected to the discharge duct 12 and the outlet 29 of which is connected to the intake circuit 11. This EGR circuit 20 includes an EGR cooler 22 connected upstream by an inlet duct 25 and downstream by an outlet duct 27, enabling the exhaust gas to be cooled before being reinjected into the engine 10.

Optionally provided is a bypass circuit 24, this being connected on one side to a valve 23 located upstream of the cooler 22 and on the other side to the outlet of the cooler 22, so that the valve 23 can let through into the bypass circuit 24 a certain quantity of exhaust gas, depending on its position. Thus, by selecting a position of the valve 23, a desired amount of uncooled gas is let through into the bypass circuit 24, and thereby the exhaust gas temperature at the outlet of the cooler 22 is selected. An EGR valve 21 is also provided at the outlet of the circuit 20 so as to regulate, over time, the amount of cooled exhaust gas delivered to the intake duct 11.

FIG. 2 shows schematically a longitudinal sectional view of an EGR cooler 22 connected upstream by the gas inlet duct 25 and downstream by the gas outlet duct 27. These two ducts 25 and 27 are shown here as being tubes having a wall 26. In this figure, it should also be pointed out that there are temperature differences along the circuit 20. Thus:

-   -   T₀ is the exhaust gas temperature measured at the inlet 28 of         the EGR circuit 20:     -   T₂ is the exhaust gas temperature at the inlet of the cooler 21;     -   T₃ is the exhaust gas temperature at the outlet of the cooler         21; and

T_(w) is the temperature of the wall 26 of the inlet duct 25.

It should also be pointed out that the mass flow rate of exhaust gas in the circuit 20 is denoted by Q_(egr).

The Applicant has taken recordings of the exhaust gas temperature along the EGR circuit 20, showing that about 35% of the energy of the gas at the inlet 28 of the circuit 20 may be lost in the inlet duct 25 and that about 65% is lost in the cooler 22.

The gas temperature at the inlet 28 of the circuit 20 cannot therefore be the same as the gas temperature at the inlet of the cooler 22.

It is therefore necessary in a model to take into account the heat exchange between the gas and the inlet duct 25 upstream of the cooler 22.

1^(st) Embodiment Development of Physics Equations

To estimate the heat exchange within an EGR circuit 20 correctly, it is necessary to take into account:

-   -   the internal heat exchange between the gas and the wall 26 of         the inlet duct 25;     -   the external heat exchange between the wall 26 of the inlet duct         25 and the environment of the engine compartment, two types of         heat exchange being predominant in the engine compartment:         -   convective heat exchange due to the flow of air around the             PU (power unit) and         -   radiative heat exchange between the various components under             the hood (cylinder head, exhaust manifold, turbocharger,             bulkhead, “ski”, etc.);     -   cooling of the gas through the EGR cooler.

FIG. 3 shows a “thermal

electrical” analogy used to establish the energy balance of the EGR circuit 20. This method provides an equivalence between the thermal system of FIG. 2 and the electrical system of FIG. 3.

It should be noted that the entire wall of the EGR tube is assumed here to be at a single overall temperature: T_(w).

The conservation of energy equations for the EGR system may thus be expressed in the form:

${M_{{st}.{st}}{Cp}_{{st}.{st}}\frac{T_{w}}{t}} = {{G_{{convective},\; {internal}}\left( {T_{2} - T_{w}} \right)} + {G_{{convective}\;,\; {external}}\left( {T_{convective} - T_{w}} \right)} + {G_{{radiative},\; {external}}\left( {T_{radiative} - T_{w}} \right)}}$ ${M_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}\frac{T_{2}}{t}} = {{G_{{convective},\; {internal}}\left( {T_{2} - T_{w}} \right)} + {Q_{egr}{{Cp}_{egr}\left( {T_{0} - T_{2}} \right)}}}$ ${K_{3}{Cp}_{3}\frac{T_{3}}{t}} = {{Q_{egr}{{Cp}_{egr}\left( {T_{2} - T_{3}} \right)}} - P_{{cooler},{egr}}}$

The meanings of the terms in these equations may be more readily understood by referring to the glossary at the end of the description.

By specifying the conductances (G_(convective) _(—) _(internal), G_(radiative) _(—) _(external) and G_(convective) _(—) _(external)), these equations then become:

$\begin{matrix} \left\{ \begin{matrix} \begin{matrix} {{{M_{{{st},{st}}\;}{Cp}_{{st},{st}}\frac{T_{w}}{t}} = {{h_{int}{S\left( {T_{2} - T_{w}} \right)}} + {{ɛ\sigma}\; S\; {f_{ij}\left( {T_{radiactive}^{4} - T_{w}^{4}} \right)}} +}}} \\ {h_{ext}{S\left( {T_{convective} - T_{w}} \right)}} \end{matrix} \\ {{{M_{{egr}\;}{Cp}_{egr}\frac{T_{2}}{t}} - {h_{int}{S\left( {T_{w} - T_{2}} \right)}} + {Q_{egr}{{Cp}_{egr}\left( {T_{\theta} - T_{2}} \right)}}}} \\ {{\frac{T_{3}}{t} = {\frac{1}{\tau_{3}}\left\lbrack {{T_{2}\left( {1 - ɛ_{3}} \right)} + {ɛ_{3}T_{water}} - T_{3}} \right\rbrack}}} \end{matrix} \right. & \begin{matrix} \begin{matrix} \begin{matrix} \begin{matrix} (1) \\ \; \end{matrix} \\ \; \end{matrix} \\ (2) \end{matrix} \\ \begin{matrix} \; \\ (3) \end{matrix} \end{matrix} \end{matrix}$

Here again, the meanings of the various terms in this system of equations may be more clearly understood by referring to the glossary at the end of the description.

In addition, the meanings and the values of certain terms in this system of differential equations are given below:

-   -   h_(int):

The internal convective heat exchange between the EGR gas and the wall 26 of the inlet duct 25 is described macroscopically by a heat exchange coefficient h_(int). This coefficient is obtained using an empirical relationship linking three dimensionless coefficients, namely the Nusselt number (Nu), the Reynolds number (Re) and the Prandtl number (Pr):

${Nu} = {{0.021\; {Re}^{0.8}\Pr^{0.6}} = \frac{h_{int}D_{characteristic}}{\lambda}}$

where:

-   -   γ is the thermal conductivity of the EGR gas, which is a         constant for the exhaust gas in question,     -   Pr is a constant ≈0.7,

${Re} = {\frac{\rho \; {VD}_{characteristic}}{\mu} = \frac{4\; Q_{egr}}{\mu \; \pi \; D_{characteristic}}}$

-   -   (see the glossary at the end of the description for the meaning         of the various terms) and     -   D_(characteristic): characteristic diameter. In the case of an         EGR duct, this may be taken to be the internal diameter of the         duct (D_(egr));     -   h_(ext):

The convective heat exchange due to the flow of air around the circuit 20 is described macroscopically by a convective heat exchange coefficient h_(ext). This coefficient is considered to be constant and is adjusted so as to reset the model with respect to trials carried out.

The average temperature of the air passing through the engine compartment (T_(convective)) generally follows a variation similar to that of the coolant temperature at the outlet of the engine 10. This is because the water temperature at the outlet of the engine compartment is a good indicator of the thermal environment in the engine compartment.

Thus, the following simplification is made:

T_(convective)=T_(water):

-   -   σ: Boltzmann's constant (=5.67×10⁻⁸), enabling the radiative         heat exchange between the various components under the hood to         be described.

The under-hood radiative heat exchange is of the same order of magnitude as the convective heat exchange, and therefore cannot be neglected. The energy exchange of radiative origin is described by equations in T⁴.

The form factor (f_(ij)), which is defined as “the way in which the inlet duct 25 sees the rest of the under-hood components”, is set here to 1.

The inlet duct 25 upstream of the cooler 22 generally has an emissivity (ε) of around 0.8.

The average temperature of the components in the engine compartment (T_(radiative)) generally follows a variation close to that of the water temperature at the outlet of the engine. Therefore:

T_(radiative)=T_(water)

-   -   ε₃:     -   The thermal power extracted by the cooler 22 is frequently         expressed in the form of an efficiency ε₃:

${ɛ\; 3} = {\frac{T_{2} - T_{3}}{T_{2} - T_{water}}.}$

This extracted thermal power may be identified on a component test bed. The efficiency of the EGR cooler depends, to the order of 1, on the EGR flow rate (Q_(egr)).

-   -   Other quantities in equations (1), (2) and (3):     -   M_(egr) is the mass of gas contained in the inlet duct 25 and is         so small compared with the other terms of the equations that it         can be considered to be negligible;     -   Cp_(egr) is the specific heat of the EGR gas at constant         pressure. This depends on the nature of the gas and is typically         close to 1150 J/kg.K;     -   Cp_(st.st.) is the specific heat of the EGR gas in the walls 26         of the inlet duct 25, the value of which is dependent on the         nature of the material (here for example stainless steel); and     -   Q_(egr) is the EGR flow rate of gas passing through the inlet         duct 25. This is not measured, but is estimated by calculating         the difference between a measurement of Q_(fresh) (the flow rate         measured at the outlet of the compressor 51) and a measurement         of Q_(engine) (the flow rate of gas entering the engine). Other         existing techniques, known to those skilled in the art, may also         be used as an alternative for estimating Q_(egr). These chosen         techniques are typically specific to each engine computer used         and to each software package provided.

There are thus three equations with three unknowns (T_(w), T₂, T₃) which can be solved by firstly finding T_(w), then T₂ and finally T₃.

An estimation of the temperature at the outlet of the cooler 22 is then obtained by taking into account the heat dissipation in the inlet duct 25, therefore making the estimation precise, as this is faithful to reality.

2^(nd) Embodiment Drastic Simplification of the Equations

The physics equations developed above can be integrated in a computer but they may remain relatively complicated (equations 1, 2 and 3). This is because they form a system of nonlinear differential equations (owing to the presence of terms in T⁴) that are strongly coupled.

It would therefore be desirable to simplify this system so as to obtain a system of independent linear first-order differential equations. For this purpose, with reference to FIG. 4, the EGR circuit 20 is considered to be a combination of two heat exchangers 100 and 200 in series.

The first heat exchanger 100 consists of the inlet duct 25 upstream of the cooler 22. The EGR gas cooled by the ambient medium 150 within the engine compartment (T_(radiative) and T_(convective) as explained above) flows through this heat exchanger 100. The gas temperature at the outlet of this first heat exchanger 100 is the temperature T₂.

The second heat exchanger 200 consists of the EGR cooler 22. The EGR gas (at the temperature T₂) cooled by the water (T_(water)) of the engine cooling circuit 250 flows through this heat exchanger 200. The gas temperature at the outlet of this second heat exchanger 200 is the temperature T₃.

1. The First Heat Exchanger 100

Defining the inlet duct 25 upstream of the cooler as a heat exchanger 100, the following efficiency is introduced macroscopically:

${ɛ\; 3} = {\frac{T_{0} - T_{2}}{T_{0} - T_{{under}\text{-}{hood}}}.}$

This efficiency summarizes the thermal performance of the inlet duct 25, i.e. the way in which the EGR gas is cooled upon contact with the wall 26 of the duct 25, which duct itself is cooled by the under-hood environment.

The notion of efficiency is generally used in the steady state.

However, since the mass of the inlet duct 25 is large (several hundred grams), the temperature (T_(w)) of the wall 26 of the duct 25 is not reached until several minutes have elapsed and therefore the notion of efficiency can no longer be used in a simple manner, i.e. without involving differential equations that can be easily integrated in a computer.

It therefore becomes necessary to define intermediate efficiencies involving:

-   -   the temperature (T_(w∞)) of the wall 26 of the inlet duct 25         when the steady state is reached; and     -   the temperature (T_(2∞)) of the gas at the cooler inlet when the         steady state is reached.

Said efficiency is then decomposed into two parts:

$\begin{matrix} {ɛ = {\frac{T_{0} - T_{2\; \infty}}{\underset{\underset{ɛ_{2}}{}}{T_{0} - T_{w\; \infty}}}\frac{T_{0} - T_{w\; \infty}}{\underset{\underset{ɛ_{1}}{}}{T_{0} - T_{{under}\text{-}{hood}}}}}} & (4) \end{matrix}$

Approximately:

-   -   ε₁ describes the way in which the exhaust gas heats the walls 26         of the duct 25; and     -   ε₂ describes the way in which the exhaust gas is cooled upon         contact with the wall 26 of the duct 25.

1.1 Simplification of Equation (1)

The conservation of energy equation (1) can be complicated to solve, in particular because of the term in T⁴ due to the radiative heat exchange beneath the hood.

In the engine compartment, the convective heat exchange due to the flow of air around the inlet duct 25 is of the same order of magnitude as all the radiative heat exchange between the inlet duct 25 and the various under-hood components (cylinder head, exhaust manifold, turbocharger, bulkhead, “ski”, etc.).

The above equation is thus simplified as:

${M_{{st}.{st}}{Cp}_{{st}.{st}}\frac{T_{w}}{t}} \approx {{h_{int}{S\left( {T_{2} - T_{w}} \right)}} + {{2 \cdot h_{ext}}{S\left( {T_{convective} - T_{w}} \right)}}}$

The water temperature T_(water) at the engine outlet is generally a good indicator of the thermal environment in the engine compartment, thereby enabling a further simplification to be made as:

$\begin{matrix} {{M_{{st}.{st}}{Cp}_{{st}.{st}}\frac{T_{w}}{t}} \approx {{h_{int}{S\left( {T_{2} - T_{w}} \right)}} + {2\; h_{ext}{S\left( {T_{water} - T_{w}} \right)}}}} & (5) \end{matrix}$

The timescale governing the wall temperature of the inlet duct 25 upstream of the cooler is of the order of one hundred seconds. The timescale governing the temperature of the EGR gas at the cooler outlet 22 is of the order of one second. The changes in T₂ over time are therefore virtually instantaneous in comparison with the changes in T_(w) over time. Thus:

${M_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}\frac{T_{2}}{t}\operatorname{<<}} < {M_{{st}.{st}}{Cp}_{{st}.{st}}\frac{T_{w}}{t}}$

The conservation of energy equation (2) can then be simplified as:

${M_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}\frac{T_{2}}{t}} = {{{h_{int}{S\left( {T_{w} - T_{2}} \right)}} + {Q_{egr}{{Cp}_{egr}\left( {T_{0} - T_{2}} \right)}}} \approx 0}$

where:

$\begin{matrix} {T_{2} = \frac{{h_{int}{ST}_{2}} + {Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}T_{0}}}{{h_{int}S} + {Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}}}} & (6) \end{matrix}$

Incorporating equation (6) into equation (5), the following is obtained:

$\begin{matrix} {{M_{{st}.{st}}{Cp}_{{st}.{st}}\frac{T_{w}}{t}} \approx {{\frac{\begin{matrix} {{h_{int}{ST}_{w}} +} \\ {Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}T_{0}} \end{matrix}}{\begin{matrix} {{h_{int}S} +} \\ {Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}} \end{matrix}}\left( {T_{0} - T_{w}} \right)} + {2\; h_{ext}{S\left( {T_{water} - T_{w}} \right)}}}} & (7) \end{matrix}$

A simple equation describing the variation in temperature of the wall 26 is now sought in the form:

$\begin{matrix} {\frac{{Tw}}{t} = {\frac{1}{\tau_{w}}\left( {T_{w\; \infty} - T_{w}} \right)}} & (8) \end{matrix}$

Moreover, from the definition of ε₁ given above in equation (4) and by approximating T_(under-hood) to T_(water), the term T_(w∞) may be written in the form:

T _(w∞) =T ₀(1−ε₁)+ε₁ T _(water)

Then, by identification of equations (7) and (8):

$ɛ_{1} \approx {\frac{2\; h_{ext}S}{{2\; h_{ext}S} + \frac{Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}h_{int}S}{{Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}} + {h_{int}S}}}\mspace{14mu} {and}}$ $\tau_{w} \approx \frac{M_{{st}.{st}}{Cp}_{{st}.{st}}}{{{2 \cdot h_{ext}}S} + \frac{Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}h_{int}S}{{Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}} + {h_{int}S}}}$

1.2 Simplification of Equation 2

The timescale governing the temperature of the EGR gas at the cooler inlet is of the order of one second. On this scale, the wall temperature of the EGR duct upstream of the cooler varies little.

Thus, the definition of ε₂ given in equation 4 is written as:

$ɛ_{2} = {\frac{T_{0} - T_{2\; \infty}}{T_{0} - T_{w\; \infty}} \approx \frac{T_{0} - T_{2\; \infty}}{T_{0} - T_{w}}}$

-   -   i.e.:

T _(2∞) ≈T ₀(1−ε₂)+ε₂ T _(w)

A simple equation describing the variation in temperature of the EGR gas at the cooler inlet is sought in the form:

$\begin{matrix} {\frac{T_{2}}{t} = {\frac{1}{\tau_{2}}\left( {T_{2\; \infty} - T_{2}} \right)}} & (9) \end{matrix}$

By identification of equations 9 and 2:

$ɛ_{2} \approx \frac{h_{int}S}{{h_{int}S} + {Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}}}$ $\tau_{2} \approx \frac{M_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}}{{h_{int}S} + {Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}}}$

1.3 Summary of the Simplification of the First Heat Exchanger 100

The conservation of energy equations governing the heat exchange of the gas in the EGR duct upstream of the cooler were initially expressed as:

$ {\quad\left\{ \begin{matrix} {{M_{{st}.{st}}{Cp}_{{st}.{st}}\frac{T_{w}}{t}} = {{h_{int}{S\left( {T_{2} - T_{w}} \right)}} + {ɛ\; \sigma \; {{Sf}_{ij}\left( {T_{radiative}^{4} - T^{4}} \right)}} + {h_{ext}{S\left( {T_{convective} - T_{w}} \right)}}}} & {\mspace{101mu} (1)} \\ {{M_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}\frac{T_{2}}{t}} = {{h_{int}{S\left( {T_{w} - T_{2}} \right)}} + {Q_{egr}{{Cp}_{egr}\left( {T_{0} - T_{2}} \right)}}}} & {\mspace{95mu} (2)} \end{matrix} \right.}$

After simplification, these two equations are now expressed in the form:

$\begin{matrix} \left\{ \begin{matrix} {T_{w\; \infty} = {{T_{0}\left( {1 - ɛ_{1}} \right)} + {ɛ_{1}T_{water}}}} \\ {\frac{T_{w}}{t} = {\frac{1}{\tau_{w}}\left\lbrack {T_{w\; \infty} - T_{w}} \right\rbrack}} \end{matrix} \right. & {{Simplified}\mspace{14mu} {equation}\mspace{20mu} (1)} \\ \left\{ \begin{matrix} {T_{2\; \infty} = {{T_{0}\left( {1 - ɛ_{2}} \right)} + {ɛ_{2}T_{w}}}} \\ {\frac{T_{2}}{t} = {\frac{1}{\tau_{2}}\left\lbrack {T_{2\; \infty} - T_{2}} \right\rbrack}} \end{matrix} \right. & {{Simplified}\mspace{14mu} {equation}\mspace{20mu} (2)} \end{matrix}$

where:

$ɛ_{1} \approx \frac{2h_{ext}S}{{2h_{ext}S} + \frac{Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}h_{int}S}{{Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}} + {h_{int}S}}}$ ${i.e.\mspace{14mu} ɛ_{1}} \approx \frac{2h_{ext}S}{{2h_{ext}S} + {Q_{egr}{{Cp}_{egr} \cdot ɛ_{2}}}}$ $ɛ_{2} \approx \frac{h_{int}S}{{h_{int}S} + {Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}}}$ ${i.e.\mspace{14mu} \tau_{w}} \approx \frac{M_{{st}.{st}}{Cp}_{{st}.{st}}}{{2h_{ext}S} + {Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}ɛ_{2}}}$ $\tau_{2} \approx \frac{M_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}}{{h_{int}S} + {Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}}}$ $\tau_{w} \approx \frac{M_{{st}.{st}}{Cp}_{{st}.{st}}}{{2{h_{ext}.S}} + \frac{Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}h_{int}S}{{Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}} + {h_{int}S}}}$

To a first order of magnitude, ε₁ and ε₂ depend only on the EGR flow rate (Q_(egr)). This is because:

-   -   for ε₂:

h_(int), the convective heat exchange coefficient for heat exchange between the EGR gas and the wall of the EGR duct, is a Reynolds function^(0.8). To a first order of magnitude, the Reynolds number is a function of the EGR flow rate (Q_(egr)).

ε₂ can then be expressed as follows:

$ɛ_{2} = \frac{K_{2}}{K_{2} + {{Cp}_{egr}Q_{egr}^{0.2}}}$

where K₂=constant.

-   -   for ε₁:     -   ε₁ is directly related to ε₂ through the relationship:

$ɛ_{1} \approx \frac{2h_{ext}S}{{2h_{ext}S} + {Q_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}ɛ_{2}}}$

it being reminded that h_(ext) is the constant convective heat exchange coefficient in question. ε₁ can then be written as follows:

$ɛ_{1} = \frac{K_{1}}{K_{1} + {{Cp}_{egr}Q_{egr}ɛ_{2}}}$

where K₁=constant.

To a first order of magnitude, the time constants τ_(w) and τ₂ again depend only on the EGR flow rate (Q_(egr)). However:

-   -   for τ₂: the EGR mass within the EGR duct is low. The time         constant τ₂ may experience only slight variations, and will         therefore be considered as a constant. However, other possible         ways of describing this time constant may be considered, such as         a description based on a more complex mathematical model or rule         managed by a program.     -   for τ_(w): for the sake of simplification, an average EGR flow         rate may be taken so as to determine a single time constant.         However, other possible ways of describing this time constant         may be considered, such as a description based on a more complex         mathematical model or rule managed by a program.

After simplification, equations (1) and (2) are expressed as:

$\begin{matrix} \left\{ \begin{matrix} {T_{w\; \infty} = {{T_{0}\left( {1 - ɛ_{1}} \right)} + {ɛ_{1}T_{water}}}} \\ {\frac{T_{w}}{t} = {\frac{1}{\tau_{w}}\left\lbrack {T_{w\; \infty} - T_{w}} \right\rbrack}} \end{matrix} \right. & {{Simplified}\mspace{14mu} {equation}\mspace{20mu} (1)} \\ \left\{ \begin{matrix} {T_{2\; \infty} = {{T_{0}\left( {1 - ɛ_{2}} \right)} + {ɛ_{2}T_{w}}}} \\ {\frac{T_{2}}{t} = {\frac{1}{\tau_{2}}\left\lbrack {T_{2\; \infty} - T_{2}} \right\rbrack}} \end{matrix} \right. & {{Simplified}\mspace{14mu} {equation}\mspace{20mu} (2)} \end{matrix}$

where:

$ɛ_{1} = \frac{K_{1}}{K_{1} + {{Cp}_{egr}Q_{egr}ɛ_{2}}}$ $ɛ_{2} = \frac{K_{2}}{K_{2} + {{Cp}_{egr}Q_{egr}^{0.2}}}$ K₁ = constant K₂ = constant τ_(w) = constant τ₂ = constant

The constants K₁, K₂, τ_(w) and τ₂ are known (see the above methods of calculation), knowing the orders of magnitude assigned to M_(st.st), Q_(egr), h_(ext) and h_(int) and based on measurements and/or estimates.

These constants may then be adjusted so as to reset the model with respect to trials carried out beforehand on the engine compartment.

2. The Second Heat Exchanger 200

Equation (3) in this case is retained.

The time constant (τ₃) is then introduced into the EGR temperature estimator so as to take into account the thermal inertia of the cooler 22. This constant may be measured on an engine test bed or estimated from data received from a cooler manufacturer.

This constant may be adjusted so as to reset the model with respect to the trials carried out beforehand on an engine compartment.

The estimated temperature T₃ at the outlet of the cooler 22 can then be deduced therefrom.

FIG. 6 shows various curves of the gas temperature T₃ at the outlet of the cooler 22, enabling comparisons to be made between:

-   -   a measurement made (curve 1);     -   an estimation according to the first embodiment of the invention         (curve 2); and     -   an estimation according to the second embodiment of the         invention (curve 3).

The estimation methods were integrated into an automobile computer.

In addition, curve 4 gives the result of an estimation of T₃ in the case in which the heat dissipation by the inlet duct 25 is not taken into account.

It is clear from examining the graph that taking into account in the modeling the heat exchange between the gas and the walls 26 of the inlet duct 25 upstream of the cooler 22 considerably improves the precision in estimating the temperature of the EGR gas at the outlet of the cooler 22.

Thus, the mean deviations between the estimate of the EGR gas temperature at the outlet of the cooler 22 according to the invention and the measurements are from 8 to 12° C.

In addition, it should be noted that this new estimator enables the variations in gas temperature along the EGR circuit to be correctly monitored.

Moreover, the simplification in the second embodiment of the invention results in deviations of only 2% compared with the first embodiment.

The second embodiment will then be used if it is desired to minimize the computing means and the computing time, while the first embodiment will be used if it is desired to maximize the precision of the estimation.

Furthermore, the estimation according to the invention has the advantage of being very simple, and therefore can be easily integrated into a computer.

The proposal to simplify the description of the heat exchange in the EGR circuit 20 is therefore entirely satisfactory.

FIG. 5 shows that one or other of the simplified formulations is extremely simple for a computer to solve. The exhaust gas temperature at the outlet of the EGR circuit 20 is thus estimated in three successive steps:

-   -   firstly, the temperature (T_(w)) of the wall 26 of the inlet         duct 25 upstream of the cooler 22 is estimated;     -   secondly, the temperature (T₂) of the EGR gas at the inlet of         the cooler 22 is estimated; and     -   lastly, the temperature (T₃) of the EGR gas at the outlet of the         cooler 22 is estimated.

A number of modeling variants may also be provided, such as the decomposition of the inlet duct 25 upstream of the cooler 22 into several small “sections”, each having its own wall temperature T_(w).

The invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with an electronic temperature estimator that includes computing means or a computer and means for storing predetermined and/or measured data, so as to implement the temperature estimation method according to the invention. In particular, an algorithm may be provided that defines the estimation of the temperature at the outlet of the EGR circuit 20, the execution of which requires few calculation means and few resources, given the simplicity of the method employed. This is therefore an ideal system to be integrated into an onboard computer.

The construction of such a precise EGR temperature estimator opens up a great variety of prospects, such as for example the design of new strategies enabling the level of fouling of the EGR circuit 20 by the exhaust gas to be detected.

Glossary Symbol Definition Unit Cp_(egr) Specific heat of the EGR gas at J/kg · K constant pressure Cp_(st·st) Specific heat of the EGR duct upstream J/kg · K of the cooler Cp₃ Specific heat of the EGR duct in the cooler J/kg · K $\frac{d}{dt}$ Derivative with respect to time 1/s D_(characteristic) Characteristic diameter for m calculating the Reynolds number D_(egr) Internal diameter of the EGR duct m f_(ij) Form factor for the radiative heat exchange — G Equivalent electrical conductance W/K h_(ext) Convective heat exchange coefficient for heat W/K · m² exchange between the wall of the duct and the airflow under the hood h_(int) Convective heat exchange coefficient W/K · m² for heat exchange between the EGR gas upstream of the cooler and the wall K_(pulse) Internal convective heat exchange — correction coefficient due to the pressure pulses in the EGR circuit M_(egr) Mass of the EGR gas upstream of the cooler kg M_(st·st) Mass of the EGR duct upstream of the cooler kg Nu Nusselt number — Pr Prandtl number ≈ 0.7 (for the gas) — P_(cooler) Thermal power extracted by the EGR cooler W Q_(egr) EGR mass flow rate kg/s Re Reynolds number — S Heat exchange area of the EGR duct m² upstream of the cooler T₀ Exhaust gas temperature before the K turbine or at the inlet of the EGR circuit T_(convective) Average temperature of the engine under-hood K air, corresponding to a heat loss at the walls 26 of the inlet duct 25 by convection T_(water) Water temperature at the engine outlet K T_(w) Average temperature of the wall of the K EGR duct upstream of the cooler T_(w∞) Instantaneous wall temperature (with K zero wall thermal inertia) T_(radiative) Average temperature of all the under-hood K components corresponding to a heat loss in the walls 26 of the inlet duct 25 by radiation from the surrounding engine components T₂ Temperature of the EGR gas at the K cooler inlet T_(2∞) Instantaneous gas temperature at the K wall cooler inlet (with zero thermal inertia) T₃ Temperature of the EGR gas at the K cooler outlet T_(3∞) Instantaneous gas temperature at the K wall cooler outlet (with zero thermal inertia) V Velocity of the EGR gas in the EGR m/s duct upstream of the cooler λ Thermal conductivity of the EGR gas W/m · K ε Emissivity of the EGR duct at the — cooler inlet ε₁ External efficiency of the EGR duct — upstream of the cooler after simplifying the differential equations ε₂ Internal efficiency of the EGR duct — upstream of the cooler after simplification of the differential equations ε₃ Efficiency of the EGR cooler — ρ Density of the EGR gas kg/m³ τ_(w) Time constant of the EGR duct upstream s of the cooler τ₂ Time constant of the EGR gas at the s inlet of the cooler τ₃ Time constant of the EGR cooler s μ Kinematic viscosity of the EGR gas kg · m · s π Pi (∞ 3.1416) — 

1. A method of estimating the exhaust gas temperature T₃ in an internal combustion engine at the outlet of an EGR circuit with which the engine is equipped, based on a model that takes into account the thermal energy loss of the exhaust gas in the EGR cooler of the EGR circuit, wherein the model furthermore takes into account the heat exchange between the exhaust gas and the walls of a duct conveying the exhaust gas to the EGR cooler.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said model takes into account the following types of heat exchange: the internal heat exchange between the gas and the wall of said duct; the external heat exchange between the wall of said duct and the environment outside the engine compartment, such as convective heat exchange due to a flow of air and radiative exchange of components external to the duct; and the gas cooling through the EGR cooler.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said model is based on simplified equations for the conservation of thermal energy of the gas taking into account the various types of heat exchange over the entire length of the EGR circuit, making it possible: (a) to determine the heat exchange between the exhaust gas and the walls of a duct conveying the exhaust gas to the EGR cooler of the EGR circuit; (b) to determine the heat exchange between the exhaust gas and the inlet of the EGR cooler, taking into account the determination in step (a); and (c) to determine the heat exchange of the exhaust gas in the EGR cooler.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said equations form a system of three equations in three unknowns T_(w), T₂ and T₃, knowing that: T_(w) is the estimated temperature of the walls of said duct; and T₂ is the estimated temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the cooler, the three equations corresponding to the three determinations (a), (b) and (c) respectively.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the temperature T₃ is mainly estimated from having the exhaust gas temperature at the inlet of the EGR circuit, the temperature of the engine coolant leaving the engine, the specific heat of the EGR gas at constant pressure, the mass flow rate of the EGR gas, the specific heat of said duct and the geometric and mass characteristics of the duct.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein $\quad\left\{ \begin{matrix} {{M_{{st}.{st}}{Cp}_{{st}.{st}}\frac{T_{p}}{t}} = {{h_{int}{S\left( {T_{2} - T_{w}} \right)}} +}} \\ {{{ɛ\sigma}\; {{Sf}_{ij}\left( {T_{radiative}^{4} - T_{w}^{4}} \right)}} + {h_{ext}{S\left( {T_{convective} - T_{w}} \right)}}} \\ {{M_{egr}{Cp}_{egr}\frac{T_{2}}{t}} = {{h_{int}{S\left( {T_{w} - T_{2}} \right)}} + {Q_{egr}{{Cp}_{egr}\left( {T_{0} - T_{2}} \right)}}}} \\ {\frac{T_{3}}{t} = {\frac{1}{\tau_{3}}\left\lbrack {{T_{2}\left( {1 - ɛ_{3}} \right)} + {ɛ_{3}T_{water}} - T_{3}} \right\rbrack}} \end{matrix} \right.$ where: Cp_(egr)=Specific heat of the EGR gas at constant pressure CP_(st.st)=Specific heat of the EGR duct upstream of the cooler $\frac{}{t} = {{Derivative}\mspace{14mu} {with}\mspace{14mu} {respect}\mspace{14mu} {to}\mspace{14mu} {time}}$ f_(ij)=Form factor for the radiative heat exchange h_(ext)=Convective heat exchange coefficient for exchange between the wall of the duct and the airflow under the hood h_(int)=Convective heat exchange coefficient for exchange between the EGR gas upstream of the cooler and the wall M_(st.st)=Mass of said duct M_(egr)=Mass of the EGR gas upstream of the cooler Q_(egr)=EGR mass flow rate S=Heat exchange area of the EGR duct upstream of the cooler T₀=Exhaust gas temperature before the turbine or at the inlet of the EGR circuit T_(convective)=Average temperature of the under-engine-hood air T_(water)=Water temperature at the engine outlet T_(radiative)=Average temperature of all of the under-engine-hood components ε=Emissivity of said duct at the inlet of the EGR cooler ε₃=Efficiency of the EGR cooler τ₃=Time constant of the EGR cooler and in which: T_(convective)≈T_(radiative)≈T_(water) h_(int) is calculated using an empirical relationship linking the three dimensionless coefficients, namely the Nusselt number, the Reynolds number and the Prandtl number: Nu=f(Re^(0.8),Pr); h_(ext) is considered to be constant and adjusted so as to reset the model in respect to trials; f_(ij)=1; ε is around 0.8 or another known constant; and $\varepsilon_{3} = {\frac{T_{2}\mspace{31mu} T_{3}}{T_{2}\mspace{31mu} T_{water}}.}$
 7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said model amounts to a system of independent linear first-order differential equations.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein these equations are found by making the following approximations: the external convective heat exchange linked to air flowing around the duct is of the same order of magnitude as the radiative heat exchange by components external to the duct; the convection temperature is approximately equal to the water temperature; and the changes in T₂ over time are instantaneous compared with the changes in T_(w) over time.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first-order equations are found from the equations in claim 6 and by making all the approximations in the preceding claim and in that the first two first-order equations are the following: $\left\{ {\begin{matrix} {T_{w\; \infty} = {{T_{0}\left( {1 - ɛ_{1}} \right)} + {ɛ_{1}T_{water}}}} \\ {\frac{T_{w}}{t} = {\frac{1}{\tau_{w}}\left\lbrack {T_{w\; \infty} - T_{w}} \right\rbrack}} \end{matrix}\left\{ \begin{matrix} {T_{2\; \infty} = {{T_{0}\left( {1 - ɛ_{2}} \right)} + {ɛ_{2}T_{w}}}} \\ {\frac{T_{2}}{t} = {\frac{1}{\tau_{2}}\left\lbrack {T_{2\; \infty} - T_{2}} \right\rbrack}} \end{matrix} \right.} \right.$ where: $ɛ_{1} = \frac{K_{1}}{K_{1} + {{Cp}_{egr}Q_{egr}ɛ_{2}}}$ $ɛ_{2} = \frac{K_{2}}{K_{2} + {{Cp}_{egr}Q_{egr}^{0.2}}}$ K₁ = constant K₂ = constant τ_(w) = constant τ₂ = constant and where: T_(w∞)=Instantaneous wall temperature (with zero wall thermal inertia) T_(2∞)=Instantaneous gas temperature at the cooler inlet wall (with zero thermal inertia) T_(3∞)=Instantaneous gas temperature at the cooler outlet wall (with zero thermal inertia) ε₁=External efficiency of the EGR duct upstream of the cooler upon simplifying the differential equations ε₂=Internal efficiency of the EGR duct upstream of the cooler upon simplifying the differential equations ε₃=Efficiency of the EGR cooler τ_(w)=Time constant of the EGR duct upstream of the cooler τ₂=Time constant of the EGR gas at the inlet of the cooler τ₃=Time constant of the EGR cooler and in that the third first-order equation is that relating to T₃ in claim 6 and in that said time constant τ₃ is introduced into the estimate of T₃ so as to take into account the thermal inertia of the cooler, adjusted according to the trials carried out.
 10. Vehicle equipped with an electronic temperature estimator, comprising computing means and means for storing predetermined and/or measured data, so as to implement the method as claimed in claim
 1. 